I'm trying to remember a male singer who is over 50, possibly Canadian, possibly with mostly white/grey hair. I remember that he has a very very good voice, and I believe he is famous bordering on legendary, though not popular among young people.

In my brain he goes in the same category as Roger Whittaker, Kenny Rogers, Michael McDonald, Tony Bennett... older white guys who could really sing, I guess. About a year ago I was watching videos on YouTube and I came across a clip of him. I clicked on it because I knew both his name and this one song that I think he is best known for. I'm pretty sure the song is really well known. I knew the song since my childhood, yet I no longer have any memory of the song or his name or exactly what he looks like.

The clip was of a live performance in an indoor theater/space, seemingly taped not that many years ago, probably decades after his heyday. It had the vibe of one of those PBS concert specials, but I don't think it was. Watching it, I was struck by just how awesome a singer he is, even if the style of music, his appearance, and the whole vibe of the show is probably rather unhip. I don't even remember anything about the sound of his voice, but I believe it has great power and probably also a pretty good range. The style of music is sort of "popular music" as it was defined maybe a few decades ago. I'm guessing the guy is in his 60s, but he could be as young as 50 or as old as 75.

I don't know why I've completely blanked on who this is, and I've been trying to remember off and on for months now. I've looked through lists of Canadian singers on Wikipedia (but he may not be Canadian...), lists of top 50 male singers of all time, etc, and can't seem to find him. I know my description is hopelessly vague, but I'm hoping AskMe will perform another miracle. Any ideas?

No, none of the mentioned singers. Thanks for trying everyone! I think the singer is less "vegas" than Paul Anka, and has more power in his voice than someone like Stan Rogers.posted by edlundart at 8:43 PM on March 31, 2011

Reading this question all I can think of is Bob Seger. But he's American. Can you remember what he was wearing? Jeans? Suit and tie? Anything else?posted by pink candy floss at 8:46 PM on March 31, 2011

Still no dice... pink candy floss, I'm not sure what he was wearing. Nothing flashy or trendy, I don't think. Could be jeans or suit-ish... wish I could remember more.posted by edlundart at 8:50 PM on March 31, 2011

Not anyone associated with Yacht Rock? And this is a bit laborious, but perhaps try plugging in those artists you mention into iTunes, clicking on their Biography section, and scan the list of contemporaries / followers?posted by miss_kitty_fantastico at 9:02 PM on March 31, 2011 [1 favorite]

I realize you don't remember the name of the song, but do you remember any lyrics or lyric fragments, or even what the song was about, or...something to go off of?posted by criacow at 9:02 PM on March 31, 2011

I know it sounds ludicrous or like I have a weird brain disease, but no, I don't remember any lyrics or anything. It is possible that the guy is associated with sort of soft rock/yacht rock stuff, but it doesn't seem to be any of the people mentioned in miss_kitty_fantastico's link. I'll try your iTunes suggestion.posted by edlundart at 9:07 PM on March 31, 2011

John Fogerty? Kim Mitchell? I give up.posted by Yorrick at 9:09 PM on March 31, 2011

Robert Goulet? He's the only Canadian singer I can think of beside Gordon Lightfoot, and you may be disappointed to learn he's no longer with us. Robert G., I mean...Gordon is still alive and well as far as I know.posted by motown missile at 9:19 PM on March 31, 2011

I got excited about it being Englebert Humperdinck because that is a name I've known forever, he is famous, and yet I haven't really known what he sounds like -- but I checked on YouTube and it's not him. It's not Chris Smither or Robert Goulet either.posted by edlundart at 9:22 PM on March 31, 2011

Still no luck, I'm afraid... it's conceivable that this person is more famous in other parts of the world than in the US, I suppose. I was born and raised in Norway, where some American, British, and Canadian singers are big -- while they are less known in North America. But it's definitely not a Scandinavian singer or anything. Pretty sure he's North American, I guess he could be British... I have this vague memory of him being Canadian, but I think we must have exhausted almost every Canadian possibility...?posted by edlundart at 9:42 PM on March 31, 2011

I'm sure it's not Charlie Rich. Not disco at all, not really rock in any true sense of the word, but it's got vocal oomph. Maybe slightly more folk-ish, pop-ish. I think the song I'm talking about may have been a way bigger success for him than anything else he did, but I'm on thin ice saying that.posted by edlundart at 10:02 PM on March 31, 2011

Ooh, Kris Kristofferson. Except that he's not really a singer in the sense I got from the OP... I'm still not convinced it's not Neil Diamond or Harry Chapin.posted by staggernation at 10:03 PM on March 31, 2011

I think the performance I saw was backed by a decent-sized band (like at least 5 people). So it's not like a guy with his accoustic guitar.posted by edlundart at 10:03 PM on March 31, 2011

Ahahaah, Rick-rolling! I may need to take a shower soon to stay awake, iconomy. Also, I feel like pretty soon people will start to think I'm just messing with them. I swear this is a real thing!posted by edlundart at 10:10 PM on March 31, 2011

That's a really good thought, but unfortunately I've tried to trace my steps already and I apparently have amnesia... I think it was likely one of those things where I fell into a rabbit hole of "parents' choice" music.posted by edlundart at 10:13 PM on March 31, 2011

It would be funny if this turns out to be correct, because that's pretty much the opposite of the hair color initially described. Memory works in funny ways...posted by staggernation at 10:19 PM on March 31, 2011

Memory works in funny ways...
staggernation, I know, I'm terrified of discovering that actually the guy I'm thinking of is 40 and from Germany and doesn't really have much of a voice. But it's not Orbison.posted by edlundart at 10:21 PM on March 31, 2011

Sorry, still no bullseye... I need to go take a shower, but I'll check in afterwards before going to bed... it's not Lee Hazlewood, but I will listen to the duet when I return! Thanks so much to everyone who's been trying.posted by edlundart at 10:35 PM on March 31, 2011

Chad Allan of the Guess Who? Well, he's Canadian. And I couldn't pass up on the chance in this free-for-all to reference a person who's birth name is Allan Kowbel.posted by thebrokedown at 11:01 PM on March 31, 2011

Not Canadian, and definitely not a one-hit wonder, but Bruce Springsteen?posted by easy, lucky, free at 11:01 PM on March 31, 2011

On preview: I see someone else thought of it first! And....Don McLean is on a tv infomercial here right this second. Flanked by Rick Springfield and Peabo Bryson.posted by iconomy at 11:01 PM on March 31, 2011

Oh wait, is it BJ THOMAS?!?? Suddenly I'm convinced it's BJ Thomas, because I just remembered seeing him on this Marvin Hamlisch PBS special sometime in the past year and remembering how much I loved him when I was really little.posted by scody at 11:04 PM on March 31, 2011

Oh marylynn's right on with Lawrence Gowan - hit records at the right time, adult contemporary, Canadian, did an orchestra-accompanied concert series in 2008.posted by LobsterMitten at 11:13 PM on March 31, 2011

I also just came running back to suggest B.J. Thomas of "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" fame.posted by Ellemeno at 11:14 PM on March 31, 2011

I'm back... Don McLean is a great guess, I'm starting to wonder if it could simply be a live performance of American Pie. I'm checking some videos and his voice is much better than I "want to think" -- I'm looking to see if I can find a clip that matches my memory.posted by edlundart at 11:15 PM on March 31, 2011

If it's not Don McLean I want it to be Corey Hart. I Wear My Sunglasses at Night is "famous, bordering on legendary" for sure. An American classic.posted by iconomy at 11:19 PM on March 31, 2011

Hmm... losing faith in Don McLean, as I can't find a live clip that could be the one I saw. If it's him, it would definitely be "American Pie."

The muppet show idea was very clever. I did a cursory search, but not finding any clues so far. We can rule out the Rat Pack.posted by edlundart at 11:29 PM on March 31, 2011

Ian Tyson? (I'll never forget, we had to sing "Four Strong Winds" in Grade Three. That's an awfully...world-weary song for eight-year-olds. "But my good times are all gone/ and I'm bound for movin' on/ I'll look for you if I'm ever back this way.")

Australian? -- it's possible... Don McLean is the closest guess so far, and it's still possible he is the one. But if it's not him, he is a good example of the kind of dude this guy is in terms of his capacity and technical skill as a singer. Also, the fact that he has that one big song makes him a good candidate.

I'm going to have to get some sleep, pretending that it is Don McLean so I can rest.

Thanks again, everybody. I'm sorry for such maddeningly vague hints.posted by edlundart at 11:42 PM on March 31, 2011

Heino? I hope it's Heino.
OMG. I do remember this song. But sadly this is not it.posted by edlundart at 11:43 PM on March 31, 2011

I'm sad it's not BJ Thomas... I thought I'd cracked the mystery with that Marvin Hamlisch special. And god knows it can't be Bobby Goldsboro.posted by scody at 11:45 PM on March 31, 2011

Don McLean also had a few other biggies - Vincent (Starry Starry Night), Castles in the Air.

And god knows it can't be Bobby Goldsboro.

Ugh, just forced myself to watch Honey to remember what the hell the big deal was. I couldn't concentrate because of his hair.

(You might want to remove your "best answer" mark or people might think this has been answered if they don't click "more inside"...and this BEST get answered.)posted by tristeza at 8:09 AM on April 1, 2011 [5 favorites]

I'm sure you didn't miss it, but just in case you did - could it have been Arlo Guthrie singing the gorgeous song City of New Orleans, which was a huge hit? That's the first one that came to mind for me.

Also, watching that video, I realized that while he's in tune, Arlo Guthrie doesn't have the greatest voice I've ever heard and that made me realize, again, how American Idol and similar shows have it so so very wrong. posted by triggerfinger at 2:37 PM on April 1, 2011

It's not an April Fool's joke, I just have a job. I will go through your latest suggestions! It's not John Farnham, but that was an interesting guess, and the voice is powerful.posted by edlundart at 7:36 PM on April 1, 2011

*sigh* Does anyone here seem likely?

maudlin, the list seemed promising, but sadly did not yield results. I'm starting to feel like every singer in the world has been mentioned or considered.

(You might want to remove your "best answer" mark or people might think this has been answered if they don't click "more inside"...and this BEST get answered.)

tristeza, that makes sense. I'm removing them now.posted by edlundart at 7:46 PM on April 1, 2011

Not old, but old-fashioned, and Canadian: Michael Buble.posted by ovvl at 8:36 AM on April 2, 2011 [1 favorite]

This is not the right kind of singer, I don't think, and he's not Canadian, so it's totally random... but could you possibly be thinking of Colm Wilkinson?

(I always think he is Canadian because I get him mixed up with Colm Feore.)posted by cider at 9:04 AM on April 2, 2011

Just because he hasn't been listed yet, and you said maybe British: Robert Plant.posted by Iris Gambol at 2:14 PM on April 3, 2011

I woke up in the middle of the night (yeah, I know) and wondered if instead of an individual singer like Don McLean it might have actually been a group around the same time... which made me wonder if it could be Three Dog Night?posted by scody at 2:48 PM on April 3, 2011

I'm afraid we still don't have a "winner," and I'm pretty much giving up. I'm 99% sure it's not a group. I apologize for starting a thread that likely will not have a feel-good resolution! Should I somehow think of him or come across the clip again or something, I'll update this thread. And I'll check in from time to time in case someone suddenly has an epiphany. Thanks again to everyone who participated.posted by edlundart at 8:06 PM on April 3, 2011

No, god damn it.

There are still old white guy singers out there that we haven't named yet!

I think perhaps that in Norway there may have been a skewed perception of how popular this singer was in other countries. You said he was "bordering on legendary" but I think that may not be the case, at least not for most of us answering this. I also found it interesting that you really seemed to pounce on the name Englebert Humperdink, which leads me to believe your singer also has a crazypants name.posted by iconomy at 9:06 PM on April 3, 2011

I just checked in to see if this was ever solved, and wanted to make one recommendation. Have you ever seen those commercials that used to air all the time on weekends or during the daytime (and still rarely do) for hits of the 50s, 60s, 70s, AM Gold, etc. They were usually some Time Life subscription thing, but they would show people singing and the song names would scroll by (with whatever was being sung at that moment shown in yellow)....I feel like if you could dig up the AM Gold commercials for that era on YouTube or if you just scroll through the album listings you will find what you are looking for...posted by This_Will_Be_Good at 10:03 PM on April 5, 2011

Tags

Share

About Ask MetaFilter

Ask MetaFilter is a question and answer site that covers nearly any question on earth, where members help each other solve problems. Ask MetaFilter is where thousands of life's little questions are answered.